Proverbs 31
31
What King Lemuel's Mother Taught Him
1These are the sayings
that King Lemuel of Massa
was taught by his mother.
2My son Lemuel, you were born
in answer to my prayers,
so listen carefully.
3Don't waste your life
chasing after women!
This has ruined many kings.
4Kings and leaders
should not get drunk
or even want to drink.
5Drinking makes you forget
your responsibilities,
and you mistreat the poor.
6Beer and wine are only
for the dying or for those
who have lost all hope.
7Let them drink and forget
how poor and miserable
they feel.
8But you must defend
those who are helpless
and have no hope.
9Be fair and give justice
to the poor and homeless.
In Praise of a Good Wife
10A truly good wife
is the most precious treasure
a man can find!
11Her husband depends on her,
and she never
lets him down.
12She is good to him
every day of her life,
13and with her own hands
she gladly makes clothes.
14She is like a sailing ship
that brings food
from across the sea.
15She gets up before daylight
to prepare food for her family
and for her servants.#31.15 and … servants: Or “and to tell her servants what to do.”
16She knows how to buy land
and how to plant a vineyard,
17and she always works hard.
18She knows when to buy or sell,
and she stays busy
until late at night.
19She spins her own cloth,
20and she helps the poor
and the needy.
21Her family has warm clothing,
and so she doesn't worry
when it snows.
22She does her own sewing,
and everything she wears
is beautiful.
23Her husband is a well-known
and respected leader
in the city.
24She makes clothes to sell
to the shop owners.
25She is strong and graceful,#31.25 She … graceful: Or “The clothes she makes are attractive and of good quality.”
as well as cheerful
about the future.
26Her words are sensible,
and her advice
is thoughtful.
27She takes good care
of her family
and is never lazy.
28Her children praise her,
and with great pride
her husband says,
29“There are many good women,
but you are the best!”
30Charm can be deceiving,
and beauty fades away,
but a woman
who honors the Lord
deserves to be praised.
31Show her respect—
praise her in public
for what she has done.
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Proverbs 31: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 31
31
1The words of Sovereign Lemu’ĕl, a message which his mother taught him:
2What, my chosen? And what, chosen of my womb? And what, chosen of my vows?
3Do not give your strength to women, Nor your ways to wiping away sovereigns.
4Not for sovereigns, O Lemu’ĕl, Not for sovereigns to drink wine, Nor for princes to desire strong drink;
5Lest they drink and forget what is inscribed, And pervert the right of all the afflicted.
6Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those embittered in being.
7Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his trouble no more.
8Open your mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all the sons of the departed.
9Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10Who does find a capable wife? For she is worth far more than rubies.
11The heart of her husband shall trust her, And he has no lack of gain.
12She shall do him good, and not evil, All the days of her life.
13She shall seek wool and flax, And with delight she works with her hands.
14She shall be as the ships of Tarshish, She brings in her food from afar.
15She also rises while it is still night, And provides food for her household, And what is lawfull for her girls.
16She shall consider a field and buy it; From her profits she shall plant a vineyard.
17She shall gird herself with strength, And strengthen her arms.
18She shall taste when her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out by night.
19She shall stretch out her hands to the distaff, And her hand shall hold the spindle.
20She shall extend her hand to the poor, And she shall reach out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is dressed in scarlet.
22She shall make tapestry for herself; She is dressed in fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
24She shall make fine linen and sell them, And shall give girdles for the merchants.
25Strength and splendour are her garments, And she rejoices in time to come.
26She shall open her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the Torah of loving-commitment.
27She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children shall rise up and call her blessed; Her husband too, and he praises her:
29“Many daughters have done nobly, But you have risen over them all.”
30Loveliness is deceptive And prettiness is vain, A woman who fears יהוה is to be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.
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